Recall 21V650 covers 52,414 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV for battery fire risk. Park outside after charging. Free repair at franchised Chevrolet dealers.
A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Watch for smoke, unusual heat, melting, or damaged components, and stop charging if those signs appear. Until the repair is complete, limit charging to 90%, park outside after charging, and do not charge indoors overnight. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 52,414 2020-2022 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV vehicles because the high-voltage battery can catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. A battery fire increases the risk of injury, so owners should park outside and away from structures until a Chevrolet dealer completes the free recall repair.
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What's wrong?
The high-voltage battery cell module in the 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV stores the electricity that powers the drive motor. It sits inside the high-voltage battery pack and releases energy as the vehicle accelerates, then takes energy back during charging. That pack has to manage heat and stored energy without damaging the cells inside.
In campaign 21V650, the problem is inside the battery cells. GM traced the fire risk to the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same cell. The condition is aggravated when the battery is routinely charged to a full or nearly full state after it has been substantially depleted. In that state, the affected cell can overheat and the high-voltage battery can catch fire.
Owners can notice smoke or unusual heat from the battery area before a failure. The battery condition can also melt or damage nearby battery parts and other vehicle components.
Who's affected?
Affects both the EV and EUV trims of the Bolt across the 2020, 2021, and 2022 model years; all use the same high-voltage traction battery.
| 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV | high-voltage traction battery |
|---|---|
| 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV | high-voltage traction battery |
| 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV | high-voltage traction battery |
| 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV | high-voltage traction battery |
| Units affected | 52,414 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Watch for smoke, unusual heat, melting, or damaged components, and stop charging if those signs appear. Until the repair is complete, limit charging to 90%, park outside after charging, and do not charge indoors overnight. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV or Bolt EV is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free battery-module replacement for the high-voltage battery fire risk.
- Bring any Chevrolet recall notice, and reference recall number 21V650 when you call.
- Set the Target Charge Level to 90%, charge more often, avoid dropping below 70 miles of range, park outside after charging, and do not charge indoors overnight until the repair is complete.
- Call the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389 with questions about the repair or interim charging steps.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces defective high voltage battery modules covered by the recall. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Until the repair is complete, follow Chevrolet's charging guidance: set the target charge level to 90%, charge more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles of remaining range, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the existing warranty, not a separate reimbursement program, because the covered vehicles are under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| August 20, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 20, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| August 20, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 1, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 7, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 7, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V650?
Recall 21V650 covers 52,414 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles with high-voltage battery modules that can catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. Chevrolet will replace defective battery modules for free.
What should I do if my 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV or Bolt EUV is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V650. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free battery-module repair. Until the repair is complete, limit charging to 90%, park outside after charging, and do not charge indoors overnight.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Chevrolet will replace defective high-voltage battery modules free of charge at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 21V650?
The safety risk is battery fire. The recalled high-voltage battery can catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity, which increases the risk of injury. Until the dealer completes the repair, follow Chevrolet's interim charging limits and park outside after charging.
When were owners notified about recall 21V650?
Chevrolet mailed owner notification letters on October 1, 2021 and June 23, 2023. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, the VIN decides whether this recall applies to your specific Bolt EV or Bolt EUV.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V650000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-833-382-4389 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V650 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V650000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →